chapter 8: introduction to high-level language programming

Chapter 8: Introduction to High-level Language Programming

Invitation to Computer Science,

C++ Version, Third Edition

Invitation to Computer Science, C++ Version, Third Edition 2

Objectives

In this chapter, you will learn about:

High-level languages

Introduction to C++

Virtual data storage

Statement types

Putting the pieces together


Objectives

Managing complexity

Object-oriented programming

Graphical programming

The big picture: software engineering


Where Do We Stand?

Early days of computing

Programmers were satisfied with assembly language

Programs written by technically oriented people

Later decades

Programmers demanded a more comfortable programming environment

Programs could be written by “nontechie” people


High-level Languages

High-level programming languages

Called third-generation languages

Overcame deficiencies of assembly language

Programmer didn’t need to manage details of data storage or movement


High-level Languages (continued) Expectations of a high-level language program

(continued)

Programmer can take a macroscopic view of tasks; “primitive operations” can be larger

Programs will be portable

Code will be closer to standard English and use standard mathematical notation


Figure 8.1

Transitions of a High-level Language Program


Figure 8.2

A Simple C++ Program


Figure 8.3

The Overall Form of a Typical C++ Program


Introduction to C++

Some components of program in Figure 8.2

Comments

Give information to human readers of code

Include directive

The linker includes object code from a library

Using directive

Tells compiler to look in a namespace for definitions not mentioned in the program


Virtual Data Storage

Identifiers: names in a programming language

Keywords: have special meanings in C++

C++: case-sensitive, free-format language

Data items can be constants or variables


Virtual Data Storage (continued) A declaration of a data item tells

Whether the item is a constant or a variable

The identifier used to name the item

The data type of the item


Figure 8.5

Some of the C++ Standard Data Types


Virtual Data Storage (continued) An array

Groups together a collection of memory locations, all storing data of the same type

Figure 8.6

A 12-Element Array Hits


Statement Types

Input/output statement

Input statement

Collects a specific value from the user for a variable within the program

Output statement

Writes a message or the value of a program variable to the user’s screen or to a file


Statement Types (continued)

Assignment statement

Assigns a value to a program variable

Control statement

Directs the flow of control

Can cause it to deviate from usual sequential flow


Input/Output Statements

Example Pseudocode

Get value for Radius C++

cin >> Radius;

cin: input stream Code for extraction operator (>>) and the

definition of the cin stream come from the iostream library and std namespace


Input/Output Statements (continued) Example

Pseudocode Print the value of Circumference

C++ cout << Circumference;

cout: output stream Code for the insertion operator (<<) and the

definition of the cout stream come from the iostream library and std namespace


The Assignment Statement

General form Pseudocode

Set the value of “variable” to “arithmetic expression” C++

variable = expression;

1. Expression on the right is evaluated

2. The result is written into the memory location named on the left


Control Statements

Types of control mechanisms Sequential

Instructions are executed in order

Conditional Choice of which instructions to execute next

depends on some condition

Looping Group of instructions may be executed many times


Control Statements (continued) Default mode of execution: sequential

Conditional flow of control

Evaluation of a Boolean condition (also called a Boolean expression)

Which programming statement to execute next is decided based on the value of the Boolean condition (true or false)


Control Statements (continued) Conditional flow of control (continued)

if-else statementif (Boolean condition)

S1;

else

S2; if variation of the if-else statement

if (Boolean condition)

S1;


Figure 8.12

Conditional Flow of Control

(If-Else)


Figure 8.13

If-Else with Empty Else


Control Statements (continued) Looping (iteration)

The loop body may be executed repeatedly based on the value of the Boolean condition

while statement

while (Boolean condition)

S1;


Figure 8.14

While Loop


Putting the Pieces Together

At this point, we can: Perform input and output

Assign values to variables

Direct the flow of control using conditional statements or looping

For a complete program, we need to: Assemble the statements in the correct order

Fill in the missing pieces


Meeting Expectations

C++ meets the four expectations for a high-level programming language

Expectations

Programmer need not manage details of the movement of data items within memory, nor pay any attention to where they are stored


Meeting Expectations (continued) Expectations (continued)

Programmer can take a macroscopic view of tasks, thinking at a higher level of problem-solving

Programs written in high-level languages will be portable rather than machine-specific

Programming statements in a high-level language

Will be closer to standard English

Will use standard mathematical notation


Managing Complexity: Divide and Conquer Divide and conquer

To solve a problem, divide it into smaller pieces

In a computer program

Divide the code into modules (subprograms), each doing a part of the overall task

Empower these modules to work together to solve the original problem


Figure 8.19

A Structure Chart

Figure 8.20

A More Detailed Structure Chart


Using Functions

Function

A module of code in C++

Named using ordinary C++ identifiers

Subtask functions: optional

The main function: mandatory


Using Functions (continued)

To invoke a subtask function, the main function gives

Name of the function

Argument list for the function

Argument list: list of identifiers for variables that concern that function

Any function can have its own constant and variable declarations


Writing Functions

A function header consists of:

Return indicator: classifies a function as a void or a nonvoid function

Function identifier

Parameter list

By default, arguments in C++ are passed by value


Figure 8.24

The Outline for a C++ Function


Figure 8.29

Some C++ Terminology


Object-Oriented Programming Object-oriented programming (OOP)

A program is a simulation of some part of the world that is the domain of interest

Each object is an example drawn from a class of similar objects

Key elements of OOP Encapsulation

A class consists of its subtask modules and its properties

Both are “encapsulated” in the class


Object-Oriented Programming (continued) Key elements of OOP (continued)

Inheritance

Once a class A of objects is defined, a class B of objects can be defined as a “subclass” of A

Polymorphism

One name, the name of the service to be performed, has several meanings, depending on the class of the object providing the service


What Have We Gained?

Two major advantages of OOP

Software reuse

A more natural “world view”


Graphical Programming: Graphics Primitives Bitmapped display

The screen is made up of thousands of pixels, laid out in a two-dimensional grid

Frame buffer

Memory that stores the actual screen image

The terminal hardware displays on the screen the frame buffer value of every individual pixel


Figure 8.34

Pixel Numbering System in a Bitmapped Display


Graphics Primitives (continued) Graphics library

Software containing a collection of functions that control the setting and clearing of pixels

Virtually all modern programming languages come with a graphics library


The Big Picture: Software Engineering Software life cycle

Overall sequence of steps needed to complete a large-scale software project

Implementation represents a relatively small part of the cycle


Figure 8.37

Steps in the Software Development Life Cycle


Scaling Up

Programs written by students No longer than a few hundred lines

Real-world programs 2, 3, or 4 orders of magnitude larger

Large-scale software development Extensive planning and design needed

A team of programmers needed

“Software engineering”


The Software Life Cycle

Each step in the software development life cycle

Has a specific purpose and activities

Should result in a written document

The feasibility study

Problem specification

Program design


The Software Life Cycle (continued) Algorithm selection or development, and

analysis

Coding

Debugging

Testing, verification, and benchmarking

Documentation

Maintenance


Modern Environments

Integrated Development Environment (IDE) speeds development by providing

A text editor

A file manager

A compiler

A linker and loader

Tools for debugging


Summary

In a high-level language, the programmer:

Need not manage storage

Can think about the problem at a higher level

Can use more powerful and more natural-language-like program instructions

Can write a much more portable program


Summary

C++ is an object-oriented, high-level programming language

if-else statement creates a conditional flow of control

while loop can be used for iteration

Software life cycle: overall sequence of steps needed to complete a large-scale software project

chapter 8: introduction to high-level language programming

Documents

c version

computer science

typical c programinvitation

simple c programinvitation

details of data storage

data item tellswhether

itemthe data type

program variable